Express

Express is one of fourteen original Multiplayer Maps in Call of Duty Black Ops II. This map is set at a train station is Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. The train station is mainly close quarter combat which spills out onto the platform and the train tracks. The static train can be entered and walked on to, but not all the train cars link together. Every now and then a second train will rush by on the open tracks.

Video Walkthrough

EXPRESS

Strategies

Team Deathmatch

IT’S A TRAP!

Express is a large map with a lot of open spaces. Like other large maps, these spaces often result in “cheap” kills- that is to say being shot from your side or rear flanks as you are running across the large, open spaces. More often than not you probably didn’t even know where the shot came from until you watch the killcam. This Example A will allow you to control two specific points on the map for the purpose of avoiding such flanking encounters, or perhaps even be on the GIVING end of some.

This map is very symmetrical. There are two specific choke points duplicated as mirror locations on either side of it. These two mirrored locations take the form of bridges crossing from the terminal over the tracks. Each bridge can be accessed from two places only- from the curving platform on the outside edge of the map, or from inside the terminal building at the center of the map. The key to these positions is using the steps at each entry point to utilize the high ground of the bridges.

Enter either bridge from inside the terminal. The entry way (for each bridge) consists of two sets of steps with one landing in the middle. Place a Bouncing Betty on the landing on your way up. Any enemy who comes along won’t see the trap until it’s too late. If they’re slow they’ll get killed. If they are moving cautiously they will no doubt deal with the trap by detonating it, or hacking it. Regardless of what they do, you will be alerted to their presence from this area.

The reason for placing the Betty on the landing: if an enemy comes across it, that usually means they have the intention of moving up the stairs to the bridge. If you put the Betty at the bottom of the steps, on the terminal floor, they may simply stumble across it WITHOUT continuing on up the stairs. You can also put the Bouncing Betty on the top of the steps for the same results, but the middle landing will giving you that much more warning of an approaching enemy. If you carry TWO Bouncing Bettys, consider putting one in each spot. The second is more likely to catch an attacker off guard if they just dealt with the first one. Or, if the first one successfully deals a kill, you still have one more which will remain intact when the first one detonates.

With the stairwell booby-trapped you can now focus your attention to the action on the bridge. If you simply want to use the bridge as a trap, stay around the end of the bridge nearest the terminal (where you put the Bouncing Bettys). This position gives you long and tight sightlines and allows you an excellent spot to pick off attackers trying to access the bridge from the platform on the outside of the map. Keep a close-quarters weapon handy for when your traps are sprung. You don’t want to have to spin around and try to aim up close with a sniper rifle.

If you want to start picking off the enemy crossing the open spaces below the bridge, and if you have a second Bouncing Betty, place one at the outside end of the bridge. Place it on the stairs coming up so you have a bit of a warning (it won’t be much of one, but better than nothing) of approaching attackers, and use your secure position to start sniping the players down below from openings at the middle of the bridge.

If you’re playing and communicating as a team, one of you can hold the bridge with only one Bouncing Betty, and the other (or more) can safely target other players down below in the open spaces.